Jorgensen Works

July 12, 2015

Bob and I are working on some new furniture pieces, made from salvaged architectural finds. Just finished by "Jorgensen Works", (built by Bob Jorgensen & design inspired by me) is a very versatile console table. I always wish I had more of this kind of table all over the house.

This one is so cute with the vintage scalloped trim, turned legs and softly curved edges. In a refreshing blue chalky paint and wax finish. Measuring a nice long 54.5 x 12.5 inches by 31" high. If you would like this one it is available on the web-shop, and in the actual shop. But it won't last long at $289. If you are out of the area, it is light enough to ship freight, we can calculate how much it would cost to get to you, just send us an email hello@rosemille.com

September 02, 2013

Ever since we added this bench to the shop I have been itching to paint it after purchasing it from a high end estate sale in prestigous "Minnetonka" MN. Since it was made by a very good furniture company, I decided it was good enough to put my time and energy into.

I Used a mixture Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, a gray and an off white. Then distressed it and wax stained it to give it a authentic Swedish Gustavian Look.

Next I re-upholstered the seat with a gorgeous piece of heavyweight organic linen.

April 28, 2012

We are in the middle of a re-modeling project in an undisclosed location, here in Stillwater MN. We decided to completely re-do a couple of rooms in our older building, to put our new Studio shop into.

{Hopefully you have registered your email with us so that you already know that our Main Street shop has MOVED! We are open just down the street in "The Grand Garage".}

And soooooon we will also have this "Studio" shop which will be housing all the wonderful creative supplies and holding classes etc. The best part, it has it's own parking lot!!

So here are some pictures, taken even before we acquired it. Lovely isn't it? Hmmm kind of average office style. Let's shake things up a bit.

The first thing we did was to rip up the office carpeting, remove the drop ceiling and knock down a wall.

{We're actually using that desk and credenza in the office!}{Now you see it....}{Now you don't}Moving right along Bob is, oh wait I took down the lovely raspberry pleated shades! He's just taking down the brackets. Gosh I almost gave him all the credit! :-))Now we need a vestibule to keep the cold drafts from chasing everyone already in, away. Would you get on that Bob?

June 12, 2011

My handy husband Bob and I have been making these vintage frame magnet boards for years and selling them in Rose Mille.

{Okay mostly Bob}

Every one of them is unique, and made one at a time from start to finish. We often make custom ones for clients.

We start with a crusty old frame. Clean it up if it is dirty, then true the back getting it ready for the board.

{The crustier the better}

Next Bob precisely measures and cuts a piece of plywood and a piece of sheet metal, to fit each selected frame. The two pieces are then laminated together to bond permanently.

In the meantime I am choosing the covering for the surface that best enhances the particular frame. Sometimes it's vintage wallpaper, an ancient piece of brocade or even some silk taffeta left over from a drapery project.

The material has to be thin enough to allow a magnet to be attracted to the metal through it. Once the fabric or paper has been choosen, I cut it slightly larger than the surface and using spray adhesive, apply it directly to the sheet metal covered board.

Bob then fits the assembly into the frame using framing tools.

{I have no idea what the technical terms are}

The back is then covered with random paper, sometimes old wallpaper, sometimes new brown paper. A couple of saw tooth hangers and felt pads complete the back.

Then I get to apply the finishing touches, an inner frame of embossed paper "Dresden" border, 3 vintage earring magnets and a few vintage postcards.

September 21, 2010

It's been over a year since my husband Bob was laid off his corporate job of 28 years. The same company that moved us here, (Minnesota), from California nine years ago. And the same company that I worked for when we met 21 years ago. We never thought it would happen to us, but here we are in the same boat as millions of other Americans. (Hang on this is not meant to be a sad story).

My shop, Rose Mille is over 12 years old, but love it that I do, it does not generate enough funds for us to live on (yet). As with any shop there are always projects that need to be done by a handy man, my husband Bob happens to be such a guy. As a contractors son, it is in his blood. So whenever I need shelves, walls, painting, electrical work, you name it, Bob's my guy. Quite strategic on my part I must say.

So, what does one do when presented with lemons? We made some business cards and started offering Bob's services as a "handyman" to others, and we formed a building design company "Jorgensen Works". Right away friends and family hired Bob to do some things around their houses, and they are now referring him to their friends. Jorgensen Works is a team company that we both do, where I design and he builds. So far some of our projects have been re-designing and "improving" forgotten furniture, lighting and accessories, that might have ended up in a landfill somewhere, or custom building fixtures for other stores and offices. He has also finished the part of our walk-out basement where my studio is, built custom shelving for my office, and built a booth. (Finally getting to the point.)

One of Bob and my dream ideas is to have a product line together, and go to the wholesale markets such as in New York to sell our wares to other stores. So we started to think about our booth and of course the line. When we got the opportunity to participate at the Handmade Market of The Creative Connection event that was to be held in Minneapolis, we thought it would be a perfect place to debut our booth and some of our line.

After much anticipation for this insanely ambitious, but wonderful crafting event, put on by no other than Jo Packham and Nancy Soriano, it is now sadly over. But how fun it was! And for the first ever event a total success! You guys ROCK! I am thrilled to have been a part of it, both on the "team", and as a vendor at the Hand Made Market.

After my studio was quasi "finished", and before the rest of the basement had sheet rock, we proceeded to built the booth in the future family room.

We had so much fun designing as we went, realizing that it needed to be able to be knocked down and shipped some day, the design challenge was on! Once Bob came up with the mechanics of the booth, we went to town. Together we chose to add old windows and moldings, painted and stained it to look old, and then I added some vintage wallpaper, and Bob made some shelves (my favorite thing). Of course we needed some lighting befit this booth so Bob made a canopy to hang a chandelier on, to top it all off.
After having it all set up and stocked in our basement, it was truth time. Can we dismantle it and build it again in another location? It worked, with a few minor glitches, we pulled it off! It looked fabulous. We even got an order to make one for a company, before the show even opened! Of course we happen to have "home team advantage", we merely had to transport it in the back of a pick-up truck across town.
So I now have a favor to ask, as you can see I only have a few photos of the booth set up at the market. The majority of the shots came out totally black! I am heart broken. But there were a number of bloggers at the event who, with their mongo cameras, took some photos. I have some of your cards, but if you are reading this, please please will you send me some pictures? Now the booth is broken down and in our garage, waiting for custom crates to be built so it can go to the next show and shine! As far as Bob and Jorgensen Works? This is one story that has yet to be written.... stay tuned.

May 18, 2010

We went with an "Engineered 5" Oak Plank floating floor. First a plastic barrier goes down on top of the cement (radiant heat) sub-floor.

Then its plank by plank knocking in each strip, being careful around the edges to cut where needed. Okay so I am not to technical here, Bob did the hard part with help from my dad Charlie and me later. We are very happy with the results.

May 13, 2010

I love color, I love to pick out paint colors, but it's not easy. After purchasing 9 different pints of similar blue/gray/greens for the trim, we ended up with the most grayish one, which was the first one I picked out. It is called Grey Wist.

We thought long and hard about what trim to paint what color, and came up with this plan; paint the windows, doors and baseboards the gray, and the crown molding, and bookcases a trim paint of the same color as the new wall paint, which is called French Canvass. It is in the white family - LOVE it!

May 08, 2010

The walls have been primed, and the shelving, and moldings are being installed! Woo Hoo! There is the super cool door with the very old painted canvass glued to it. I am thinking a grayish bluish color for the trim and Chalky grey/white on the walls. Should I paint the shelving the trim color??? We shall see.